2021 Edition

Background

Guam was settled by Austronesian people around 1500 B.C. These people became the indigenous Chamorro and were influenced by later migrations, including the Micronesians in the first millennium A.D., and island Southeast Asians around 900. Society was stratified with higher classes living along the coast and lower classes living inland. Spanish explorer Ferdinand MAGELLAN was the first European to see Guam in 1521 and Spain claimed the island in 1565 as it served as a refueling stop for ships between Mexico and the Philippines. Spain formally colonized Guam in 1668. Spain’s brutal repression of Chamorro, along with new diseases and intermittent warfare, reduced the indigenous population from more than 100,000 to less than 5,000 by the 1700s. Spain tried to repopulate the island by forcing people from nearby islands to settle on Guam and preventing them from escaping.Guam became a hub for whalers and traders in the western Pacific in the early 1800s. During the 1898 Spanish-American War, the US Navy occupied Guam and set up a military administration. The US Navy opposed local control of government despite repeated petitions by Chamorro. Japan invaded Guam in 1941 and instituted a repressive regime. During the US recapture of Guam in 1944, the island’s two largest villages were destroyed. After World War II, political pressure from local Chamorro leaders led to Guam being established as an unincorporated organized territory in 1950 with US citizenship granted to all Chamorro. In a referendum in 1982, more than 75% of voters chose closer relations with the US over independence, although no change in status was made because of disagreements on the future right of Chamorro self-determination. The US military holds about 29% of Guam’s land and stations several thousand troops on the island. The installations are some of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific; they also constitute the island’s most important source of income and economic stability.

Area

land

544 sq km

total

544 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

three times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to December); little seasonal temperature variation

Coastline

125.5 km

Elevation

highest point

Mount Lamlam 406 m

lowest point

Pacific Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 144 47 E

Geography - note

largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago and the largest island in Micronesia; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

Irrigated land

2 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

33.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 16.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 14.8% (2018 est.)

forest

47.9% (2018 est.)

other

18.7% (2018 est.)

Location

Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Map references

Oceania

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare but potentially destructive typhoons (June to December)

Natural resources

aquatic wildlife (supporting tourism), fishing (largely undeveloped)

Population distribution

no large cities exist on the island, though large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population; the largest of these is Dededo

Terrain

volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south

Age structure

0-14 years

27.22% (male 23,748/female 22,122)

15-24 years

16.08% (male 14,522/female 12,572)

25-54 years

36.65% (male 31,880/female 29,871)

55-64 years

10.5% (male 9,079/female 8,610)

65 years and over

9.54% (male 7,504/female 8,577) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

18.76 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

NA

Death rate

5.99 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

16.1

potential support ratio

6.2 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

52.4

youth dependency ratio

36.4

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Chamorro 37.3%, Filipino 26.3%, White 7.1%, Chuukese 7%, Korean 2.2%, other Pacific Islander 2%, other Asian 2%, Chinese 1.6%, Palauan 1.6%, Japanese 1.5%, Pohnpeian 1.4%, mixed 9.4%, other 0.6% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

11.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

11.75 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.73 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

English 43.6%, Filipino 21.2%, Chamorro 17.8%, other Pacific island languages 10%, Asian languages 6.3%, other 1.1% (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.85 years (2021 est.)

male

74.81 years

total population

77.25 years

Major urban areas - population

147,000 HAGATNA (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

30.2 years (2020 est.)

male

28.7 years

total

29.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Guamanian

noun

Guamanian(s) (US citizens)

Net migration rate

-10.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Population

168,801 (July 2021 est.)

Population distribution

no large cities exist on the island, though large villages (municipalities) attract much of the population; the largest of these is Dededo

Population growth rate

0.18% (2021 est.)

Religions

Christian (predominantly Roman Catholic) 94.2%, folk religions 1.5%, Buddhist 1.1%, other 1.6%, unaffiliated 1.7% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 89.8% of population (2015 est.)

improved: total

total: 89.8% of population (2015 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 89.8% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 10.2% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 10.2% of population (2015 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 10.2% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.16 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.07 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.81 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

28.9% (2011 est.)

male

29.7%

total

29.4%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

95% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

none (territory of the US)

Capital

etymology

the name is derived from the Chamoru word "haga," meaning "blood", and may refer to the bloodlines of the various families that established the original settlement

geographic coordinates

13 28 N, 144 44 E

name

Hagatna (Agana)

time difference

UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see United States

Constitution

amendments

amended many times, last in 2015

history

effective 1 July 1950 (Guam Act of 1950 serves as a constitution)

Country name

abbreviation

GU

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Guam

etymology

the native Chamorro name for the island "Guahan" (meaning "we have" or "ours") was changed to Guam in the 1898 Treaty of Paris, whereby Spain relinquished Guam, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the US

local long form

none

local short form

Guahan

Dependency status

unincorporated organized territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the federal government under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (territory of the US)

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the Legislature

chief of state

President Joseph R. BIDEN Jr. (since 20 January 2021); Vice President Kamala D. HARRIS (since 20 January 2021)

election results

Lourdes LEON GUERRERO elected governor; percent of vote -  Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (Democratic Party) 50.7%, Ray TENORIO (Republican Party) 26.4%; Josh TENORIO (Democratic Party) elected lieutenant governor

elections/appointments

president and vice president indirectly elected on the same ballot by an Electoral College of 'electors' chosen from each state to serve a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ballot by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for 2 consecutive terms); election last held on 6 November 2018 (next to be held in November 2022)

head of government

Governor Lourdes LEON GUERRERO (since 7 January 2019); Lieutenant Governor Josh TENORIO (since 7 January 2019)

Flag description

territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, a proa or outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; the proa is sailing in Agana Bay with the promontory of Punta Dos Amantes, near the capital, in the background; the shape of the central emblem is that of a Chamorro sling stone, used as a weapon for defense or hunting; blue represents the sea and red the blood shed in the struggle against oppression

note

note: the US flag is the national flag

Government type

unincorporated organized territory of the US with local self-government; republican form of territorial government with separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches

Independence

none (territory of the US)

International organization participation

AOSIS (observer), IOC, PIF (observer), SPC, UPU

Judicial branch

highest courts

Supreme Court of Guam (consists of 3 justices); note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Guam are referred to the US Supreme Court

judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Guam legislature; justices appointed for life subject to retention election every 10 years

subordinate courts

Superior Court of Guam - includes several divisions; US Federal District Court for the District of Guam (a US territorial court; appeals beyond this court are heard before the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit)

Legal system

common law modeled on US system; US federal laws apply

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Legislature of Guam or Liheslaturan Guahan (15 seats; members elected in a single countrywide constituency by simple majority vote to serve 2-year terms)Guam directly elects 1 member by simple majority vote to serve a 2-year term as the delegate to the US House of Representatives; note - the delegate can vote when serving on a committee and when the House meets as the Committee of the Whole House, but not when legislation is submitted for a “full floor” House vote

election results

Guam Legislature - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, Republican Party 5; composition - men 5, women 10, percent of women 66.7%Guam delegate to the US House of Representatives - Democratic Party 1 (man)

elections

Guam Legislature - last held on 3 November 2020 (next to be held on 5 November 2022)delegate to the US House of Representatives - last held on 3 November 2020 with runoff on 17 November (next to be held on 5 November 2022)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Ramon Manalisay SABLAN [English], Lagrimas UNTALAN [Chamoru]/Ramon Manalisay SABLAN

name

"Fanohge Chamoru" (Stand Ye Guamanians)

note

note: adopted 1919; the local anthem is also known as "Guam Hymn"; as a territory of the United States, "The Star-Spangled Banner," which generally follows the playing of "Stand Ye Guamanians," is official (see United States)

National holiday

Discovery Day (or Magellan Day), first Monday in March (1521)

National symbol(s)

coconut tree; national colors: deep blue, red

Political parties and leaders

Democratic Party [Joaquin "Kin" PEREZ]Republican Party [Jerry CRISOSTOMO]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; note - Guamanians are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Agricultural products

fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef

Budget

expenditures

1.299 billion (2016 est.)

revenues

1.24 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Debt - external

NA

Economic overview

US national defense spending is the main driver of Guam’s economy, followed closely by tourism and other services. Guam serves as a forward US base for the Western Pacific and is home to thousands of American military personnel. Total federal spending (defense and non-defense) amounted to $1.988 billion in 2016, or 34.2 of Guam’s GDP. Of that total, federal grants and cover-over payments amounted to $3444.1 million in 2016, or 35.8% of Guam’s total revenues for the fiscal year. In 2016, Guam’s economy grew 0.3%. Despite slow growth, Guam’s economy has been stable over the last decade. National defense spending cushions the island’s economy against fluctuations in tourism. Service exports, mainly spending by foreign tourists in Guam, amounted to over $1 billion for the first time in 2016, or 17.8% of GDP.

Exchange rates

the US dollar is used

Exports

Exports 2015

$1.046 billion (2015 est.)

Exports 2016

$1.124 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities

scrap iron, electric batteries, gas turbines, scrap copper, beauty products (2019)

Exports - partners

South Korea 31%, Hong Kong 27%, Taiwan 18%, Philippines 7% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 October - 30 September

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

19.4% (2016 est.)

government consumption

55% (2016 est.)

household consumption

56.2% (2016 est.)

imports of goods and services

-51.2% (2016 est.)

investment in fixed capital

20.6% (2016 est.)

investment in inventories

NA (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

NA

industry

NA

services

58.4% (2015 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.793 billion (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2015

$3.054 billion (2015 est.)

Imports 2016

$2.964 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, trunks/cases, cars, insulated wire, broadcasting equipment (2019)

Imports - partners

Singapore 33%, Japan 21%, South Korea 18%, Hong Kong 9%, Malaysia 6% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

national defense, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

0% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

1% (2017 est.)

Labor force

73,210 (2016 est.)

note

note: includes only the civilian labor force

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

0.3%

industry

21.6%

services

78.1% (2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

23% (2001 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2013

32.1% of GDP (2013)

Public debt 2016

22.1% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

$5.531 billion (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

$5.697 billion (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016

$5.793 billion (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2014

1.6% (2014 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2015

0.5% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

0.4% (2016 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2014

$34,400 (2014 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2015

$35,200 (2015 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2016

$35,600 (2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

21.4% (of GDP) (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

3.9% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

4.5% (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

28.9% (2011 est.)

male

29.7%

total

29.4%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

1.601 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

94% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

6% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

560,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

1.722 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

14,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

13,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1.86 (2019)

total

3,000 (2014)

Broadcast media

about a dozen TV channels, including digital channels; multi-channel cable TV services are available; roughly 20 radio stations

Internet country code

.gu

Internet users

percent of population

80.51% (2019 est.)

total

136,500 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

three major companies provide both fixed-line and mobile services, as well as access to the Internet; fixed-line 42 per 100 and 113 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)

general assessment

integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers (2020)

international

country code - 1-671; major landing points for Atisa, HANTRU1, HK-G, JGA-N, JGA-S, PIPE-1, SEA-US, SxS, Tata TGN-Pacific, AJC, GOKI, AAG, AJC and Mariana-Guam Cable submarine cables between Asia, Australia, and the US (Guam is a transpacific communications hub for major carriers linking the US and Asia); satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

42.01 (2018 est.)

total subscriptions

68,000 (2018)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

61.99 (2004 est.)

total subscriptions

98,000 (2004 est.)

Airports

total

5 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2017)

over 3,047 m

2

total

4

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

N

Merchant marine

by type

other 3 (2021)

total

3

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Apra Harbor

Roadways

total

1,045 km (2008)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US

Disputes - international

none

Climate

tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (July to December); little seasonal temperature variation

Environment - current issues

fresh water scarcity; reef damage; inadequate sewage treatment; extermination of native bird populations by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species

Land use

agricultural land

33.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 1.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 16.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 14.8% (2018 est.)

forest

47.9% (2018 est.)

other

18.7% (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.84% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

95% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

141,500 tons (2012 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

25,258 tons (2011 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

17.9% (2011 est.)